UPDATED: RI State Police Command Members Being Investigated By CT State Police

UPDATED: RI State Police Command Members Being Investigated By CT State Police

At least 20 members of the Rhode Island State Police have been interviewed by members of the Connecticut State Police regarding an incident involving at least two high ranking members of the RI State Police, GoLocal has learned from top law enforcement officials.

The interviews have taken place over the past few weeks, according to multiple members of the RI State Police.

A number of issues have emerged regarding the RI State Police, including allegations made by State Troopers now on the job and some who have left the force.

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The Department has been under significant scrutiny for the handling of the Jamie Donnelly-Taylor case. 

Rhode Island State Police Superintendent James Manni asked for the Connecticut review. Presently, Manni is traveling overseas.

GoLocal has asked both Rhode Island and Connecticut State Police to comment. 

Connecticut's State Police public information office directed all questions to the Rhode Island State Police, "I have referred your request to the Rhode Island State Police, Deputy Superintendent/Chief of Field Operations, Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Barry."

RI  State Police tell GoLocal that under the RI Policemen's Bill of Rights, the agency cannot comment.

Manni had promised a full review after presenting the Monsanto video.

The Rhode Island State Police have had three superintendents in the past three years since Col. Steven O'Donnell was retired in September of 2016. He was followed by Ann Assumpico. Manni was appointed by Governor Gina Raimondo. He was officially sworn in this past March.

The matters being investigated by Connecticut State Police took place prior to Manni's return to the agency, according to multiple sources with firsthand knowledge.

In July, GoLocal reported that the head of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers (NABLEO) and the President of the NAACP Providence Chapter said that the beating case of Lionel Monsanto by Rhode Island State Trooper James Donnelly-Taylor while a fellow Trooper stood and watched by should be referred to the United States Justice Department for an investigation into the violation of Monsanto’s civil rights.

“The time in processing appeared to be a fairly routine procedure. It obviously became much more problematic when he was taken to the holding cell,” said Lieutenant Charles P. Wilson, the National Chairman of NABLEO.

“Actions such as those exhibited have no place in professional law enforcement. They serve no useful purpose. They are, in my opinion, illegal and merit investigation as a civil rights violation. It is unlikely, however, that the justice department in the current administration will consider it as such,” said Wilson.

Jim Vincent, President of the Providence Chapter of the NAACP, told GoLocal that the tape was disturbing and that the matter -- now approximately five years -- old needs independent review.

“This should be referred to the U.S. Civil Right Division,” said Vincent in a phone interview. “The response to this crime — and it is a crime [by Trooper Donnelly-Taylor] is woefully inadequate.”

"The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, created in 1957 by the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, works to uphold the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans, particularly some of the most vulnerable members of our society. The Division enforces federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, disability, religion, familial status and national origin," according to the U.S. Justice Department. Complaints can be filed with the Division HERE.

Vincent was briefed on the incident by Manni the press briefing.

However, a lawsuit filed in 2017 by the attorney for Donnelly-Taylor alleges that O’Donnell was part of a cover-up of the incident. In the documents filed in district court on March 24, 2017, Donnelly-Taylor alleges O’Donnell told him to “take one for the team” and take a nolo contendre — a guilty plea — to the assault charges, and that O’Donnell assured him he would be indemnified in any civil claim. 

"If Mr. Monstanto had a good case, he and his very competent attorney would not have settled for nuisance value. The highest law enforcement agencies in the state of Rhode Island spent a lot of money and a lot of time to ensure that no jury ever saw the evidence in this case," said John Martin, Donnelly-Taylor's attorney Monday night in an interview. Martin has said the conflict was sparked by Monsanto swearing at the Troopers and throwing an elbow at Donnelly-Taylor when entering the cell.

This story was updated 9/6/19 at 11:32 PM and at 9/7/19 at 6:27 AM